"Creatine loading" refers to a method used to quickly increase the levels of a natural substance called creatine in the muscles. This involves taking higher doses of creatine for a short period of time to saturate the muscles before returning to regular dosing. It is commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders to potentially boost strength and improve performance during intense exercise.
Full definition
If you know what creatine is, you've probably heard of creatine cycle,
creatine loading phase, and creatine maintenance phase.
After 7 days
of creatine loading, or a further 14 days of creatine maintenance dose, serum T levels did not change.
Ziegenfuss TN, Rogers M, Lowery L, Mullins N, Mendel R, Antonio J, Lemon P. Effect of
creatine loading on anaerobic performance and skeletal muscle volume in NCAA Division I athletes.
In their impressive study, Ziegenfuss and fellow researchers demonstrated that
creatine loading over just three days significantly improved muscle volume and cycle sprint performance in elite power athletes
Some Athletes and pro bodybuilders advocate what's called «
creatine loading.»
So take a few minutes and read about creatine cycles, creatine uses, and
creatine loading and maintenance phases.
During
the creatine loading phase, I typically took 4 servings a day.
After
the creatine loading phase (first week), you lower the amount of creatine use - this is the maintenance phase.
However, levels of DHT increased by 56 % after 7 days of
creatine loading and remained 40 % above baseline after 14 days maintenance (P < 0.001).
I repeated this type of schedule over the next days, continuing with
my creatine loading, food loading and water loading.
I would continue loading creatine for the next 4 days, taking glutamine only after each workout from then on rather than with
my creatine loading.
When I finished
my creatine loading after the fifth day, I began taking a protein shake first thing in the morning instead.
Conclusion «Caffeine might not attenuate the ergogenic benefits of creatine, if the ingestion of caffeine occurred after
the creatine loading phase», the Taiwanese summarise.
(13 lbs total, though at least 6 - 7 of this came after a week of
creatine loading and is likely water retention)